Post-Study Work Visa by Country (OPT, PGWP, Graduate Route)
How long you can stay and work after a master's in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands, with the rule changes coming up.
Most CS, data science and engineering degrees are.
Usually just after your course ends.
- United States3 years · 12 months OPT + 24 months STEM extension
- Canada3 years · Up to 3 years for a master's of 8 months or more
- Germany18 months · Up to 18 months to find a job
- United Kingdom18 months · Applying on or after 1 Jan 2027
- Ireland2 years · 12 months, renewable once for 12 more
- Netherlands1 year · Orientation year, apply within 3 years of graduating
United States
OPT, plus the STEM OPT extension
3 years12 months OPT + 24 months STEM extension
- Apply from 90 days before to 60 days after your program end date.
- STEM extension: your degree must be on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, the employer must use E-Verify, and you file a Form I-983 training plan.
- The job must relate to your field of study (for STEM OPT, directly related to the STEM degree).
- No more than 90 days without a job on OPT, or 150 days across OPT and STEM OPT.
After that: H-1B work visa, usually sponsored by an OPT employer.
Proposed, not finalA rule proposed on 8 Oct 2026 would make universities pay a $70,000 fee for a student's first OPT and $30,000 for later OPT, including STEM OPT. It wouldn't change how long OPT lasts. It isn't final. Federal Register 2026-20660
On hold in courtA final rule ending "duration of status" would cut the 60-day grace period after OPT to 30 days. It was due to take effect on 15 Sep 2026 but is reported to be on hold under a nationwide court order. Federal Register 2026-14439
Sources: USCIS — OPT for F-1 students
Canada
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
3 yearsUp to 3 years for a master's of 8 months or more
- Your college or university must be PGWP-eligible.
- No field-of-study requirement for master's graduates.
- Language test at CLB 7 in all four skills for university graduates.
- The permit can't run past your passport's expiry date.
After that: Permanent residence, often through Express Entry using Canadian work experience.
Sources: IRCC — About the PGWP; IRCC — PGWP eligibility
Germany
Residence permit to look for work (§20 Residence Act)
18 monthsUp to 18 months to find a job
- Granted after you successfully complete your degree in Germany.
- You must be able to support yourself while you look for work.
- Once you find a qualified job you switch to an EU Blue Card or skilled-worker permit.
After that: EU Blue Card: in 2026 a salary of at least €45,934.20 a year applies to graduates whose degree is up to 3 years old (€50,700 otherwise). Settlement permit possible after 27 months, or 21 with German at B1.
Coming upBlue Card salary thresholds are reset every 1 January; the 2027 figures aren't published yet. German Missions — EU Blue Card
Sources: Residence Act §20; BAMF — EU Blue Card
United Kingdom
Graduate visa
18 monthsApplying on or after 1 Jan 2027
- Apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires.
- Your university must have reported that you completed the course.
- You don't need a job offer or an employer sponsor.
- Can't be extended; you can switch to a Skilled Worker visa.
After that: Skilled Worker visa with a licensed sponsor.
Coming upThe Graduate visa for bachelor's and master's graduates drops from 2 years to 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027. It's already in the Immigration Rules. Immigration Rules — Appendix Graduate
Sources: gov.uk — Graduate visa; gov.uk — Graduate visa eligibility
Ireland
Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G)
2 years12 months, renewable once for 12 more
- Apply within 6 months of getting your results and before your Stamp 2 permission expires.
- Any full-time job is allowed and you don't need an employment permit; self-employment isn't.
- Total time on Stamp 2 and Stamp 1G together can't exceed 8 years.
- €300 registration fee and private medical insurance required.
After that: Critical Skills Employment Permit: from 1 March 2026 a salary of at least €36,848 for recent graduates in listed occupations (€40,904 otherwise), leading to Stamp 4 residence.
In forceEmployment-permit salary thresholds rose 7.66% on 1 March 2026; further rises are planned through 2030 but the amounts aren't set. Department of Enterprise, 2 Dec 2025
Sources: Irish Immigration Service — Third Level Graduate Programme; Critical Skills Employment Permit
Netherlands
Orientation year (zoekjaar hoogopgeleiden)
1 yearOrientation year, apply within 3 years of graduating
- Apply within 3 years of graduating from a Dutch university.
- Any job is allowed and your employer doesn't need a work permit for you.
- The application fee is €254 (2026).
After that: Highly skilled migrant permit: in 2026 a reduced salary criterion of €3,122 gross a month applies to recent graduates (normally €4,357 under 30, €5,942 from 30).
Proposed, not finalIn July 2025 the cabinet proposed raising the highly skilled migrant salary criteria and limiting how long the reduced graduate criterion can be used. It has no effective date and isn't law. IND — Residence permit for orientation year
Sources: IND — Orientation year; IND — Required amounts
For a master's graduate, from official government pages checked 7 November 2026. Immigration rules change often; confirm on the official page before you plan around them.
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